Third Purdue fraternity suspended for hazing

April 15, 2006

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Purdue University has suspended a fraternity -- the third this year -- the school said because members stripped a drunken fellow member down to his boxer shorts, bound him in duct tape and left him outside in subzero weather. Members of Delta Tau Delta -- already on probation for hazing violations -- bought the man drinks until he was ill and left him nearly naked in front of his girlfriend's sorority house, the Office of the Dean of Students said. Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students, said the hazing happened after the victim decided to give his girlfriend his Greek letter charm as a sign they are a couple. Jim Russell, executive vice president of the Delta Tau Delta national organization, said the fraternity's own investigation agreed with Purdue's findings. It suspended some members and expelled others as a result. Earlier this year, Purdue University suspended Sigma Phi Epsilon for violating hazing rules after a pledge was hospitalized for drinking too much at a party. The university said members provided alcohol to minors, who were encouraged to play drinking games and consume dangerous amounts of alcohol in a short time during a house party. Also this year, Purdue suspended the Delta Chi fraternity, which was already on probation, after officials determined a game of tag was hazing. Fraternity members required pledges to participate in an indoor game of tag that led to pushing and damage to the house, the university found. The game continued even though chapter advisers had asked the fraternity to discontinue it, Purdue officials said. Zach Brettnacher, president of Purdue's Interfraternity Council, said hazing is not an acceptable part of being in a fraternity. "Within any organization you're going to have a couple of bad apples or those who like to push the limits to where new members feel uncomfortable," he said. "We're looking to prevent that, to build a community leader, a scholastic male, one that's oriented toward service."